tournaments (i can play) in NYC?

[TennisKevin]

I'm fairly confused as to how the USTA works. I have lurked on this part of the message board trying to learn how the USTA works, but I still can't quite grasp how it all works out. Do i need to be on a team to play in a tournament? how do i find a team? If I'm 19, would i end up playing in juniors or adults?

these are just a couple of questions that I'd like to have answered so i can get the hang of how the USTA and its tournaments work. in addition, are there any tournaments in NYC (or in that area, because i like about an hour from NYC) that i could simply enter in and play in? i would rate myself at a 3.5 or 4.0 player i guess, although i'm not sure. this summer i want to play as much tennis as i possibly can, and since i'll be working, i'd like to know the dates that i need to have off so i can play in tournaments.

[J011yroger]

You are 19, so you are no longer a junior, and because you aren't 35 which is where the age groups get serious (there are 25s and 30s but they are jive categories)

So if you wanna play USTA Tournaments you gotta play Open. Or NTRP tournaments. There are not too many NTRP tournaments around, and as far as 3.5-4.0 playing open you probably wont have much fun.

To find 3.5, and 4.0 tournaments go here

http://tennislink.usta.com/Tournamen...le/Search.aspx

and search NTRP divisions in eastern.

J

[TennisKevin]

could somebody tell me what all these divisions mean? after searching and finding some tournaments near me, the division listings are like this:

Divisions: M(Op,45,55)s,SE; W(Op)sd,SE; M(Op)d,SE; X(Op)d,SE; NM(3.0-4.5)s,SE; NW(3.0,4.0)sd,SE; NM(4.0)d,SE; NX(4.0)d,SE; FS(0)d,SE; FD(0)d,SE; MS(0)d,SE; MD(0)d,SE; PC(0)d,SE

what do all of these mean?

is it correct that i would have to play in the "open" section of all tournaments? is there a level (3.5, 4.0, etc) requirement or limit to the "open" section?

[J011yroger]

Open is open, anyone can play, if you are 3.5 be prepared to get the ever loving snot beaten out of you.

J

[J011yroger]

Read this thread, then ask me anything that wasn't covered.

http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showt...=abbreviations

J

[TennisKevin]

does "NM(3.0-4.5)s" mean "NTRP rated 3.0-4.5 Men's singles?" i'm confused as to what the "N" in front means. if that just means NTRP, then i think i've got the hang of it.

[J011yroger]

Yes, that is exactly what the N means. So they would have NTRP Mens 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 draws

J

[TennisKevin]

thanks a lot for the help J011yroger. I still have one more question, though, about rating myself. after looking at the handbook i would rate myself 3.5 because many people have said to rate yourself a little bit below what you think you are. my strokes match up with a 4.0 player, but my serve is a liability and matches the 3.5 level better. but i have a problem in rating myself a 3.5 because i play college tennis (more of a practice partner at this point, looking to improve over the next few years). after looking at the general and experienced player guidelines (http://dps.usta.com/usta_master/usta...05:08:52%20PM), it says that any div II or III college player is an automatic 4.0. Even though i would self-rate myself at 3.5, should i rate myself up to a 4.0 anyway, because the chart is telling me to do so?

[J011yroger]

self rate 3.5. You can always play up. And quite frankly, with you being new to tournament play, and not familiar with what constitutes 4.0 in your area, you may well be shocked at how good some of the 4.0 players are. Even when you are the same abilitity level as the people in your class, when you are new to tournament play you generally have to take your lumps at first. So rate 3.5, and enter 3.5 and 4.0 tourneys. See how you do. Like I said you can always play up to 4.0 if you rate 3.5, but if you rate 4.0 there is no going back.

J

[Serve 'em hard]

You guys think a 3.5 can take a set off a 4.0 and/or push him too a tie break? I mean, how close are the levels?

[J011yroger]

No way. A very strong 3.5 against a very weak 4.0 yea, but a mid 3.5 against a mid 4.0... The 3.5 would be lucky to lose 2&2. Each NTRP level until you get to 5.0 is a quantum leap in ability, once you get to 5.0 all that NTRP stuff kind of goes out the window.

J